FIFA secretary-general, Ms Fatma Samoura has announced that, for the first time ever, World Cup prize money will be paid directly to the players, without interference from a third party.
This announcement was made in a viral video on social media yesterday, after the football governing body cited the issues of unpaid allowance involving Nigeria’s Super Falcons and the Nigerian Football Federation.
Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum, had earlier revealed that some players were owed “per diem and bonuses” from two years ago, after also complaining of poor travel arrangements and the cancellation of a pre-tournament camp.
Every player participating in the World Cup group stage would earn $30,000, and the match bonuses will increase to $60,000 in the second round of the competition.
World Cup prizes are a significant source of income for many players worldwide, the average salary of professional women’s soccer players is about $14,000 each year, according to FIFA’s 2022 benchmarking report.
FIFA’s total investment in this year’s World Cup is budgeted to exceed $500 million, as it is on track to become the most attended Women’s World Cup in history.
